July 10, 2015

Skoda Auto is building a new Emission Centre in Mlada Boleslav. In partnership with the Volkswagen Group, the Czech car manufacturer will be investing more than €11-million into expanding the Engine Centre, which opened in 2014. The new centre is expected to open in July 2016. The new Emissions Centre will play a key role in reducing the emissions of new Skoda models in the years to come.

The foundation stone was laid for the 'Emissions Centre South' at the Skoda Development Centre site at an official ceremony attended by Dr. Frank Welsch, Skoda Board Member, the Chairman of Skoda's trade union Jaroslav Povsik, as well as senior representatives from Technical Development and the Volkswagen Group. €6.4-million of the total of more than €11-million investments will go into constructing the new building, while the remaining almost €5-million will be spent on equipping the centre with the latest technology. In addition, the company has announced that new jobs will be created.

"Skoda will continue to grow with new models over the coming years," said Dr. Frank Welsch. "In developing new vehicles, we consistently aim to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The new Emissions Centre is thus a key element in our growth strategy and another important investment for the Skoda brand. We have been developing and building engines in Mlada Boleslav for the last 116 years. The company's expertise in this area will be further strengthened with the opening of our new Emissions Centre."

As a part of Skoda's drivetrain development department, the new Emissions Centre will be directly connected to the Mlada Boleslav Engine Centre. Based on the latest measurement technology, Skoda will be able to measure the emissions of vehicles with petrol and diesel engines, as well as vehicles with alternative fuel systems in the new facility. Two completely new measuring stations will feature so-called biaxial brake testers, including rollers and analysing systems. Each test stand will initially be able to carry out up to 15 emission measurements daily, subsequently increasing to as many as 25 measurements every day. The range of test operating temperatures spans from -40°C to +65°C.